Summary

A few people are gathered in Ill's shop talking to his wife. Ill is upstairs compulsively pacing in his room. The townspeople continue to give various justifications for Claire and criticize Ill for his past action. They attribute his current state not to fear of death but to guilt over what he did to her. They threaten to take action against him if he continues to pretend like Claire was seriously threatening him. A few of the men decide to post themselves at the staircase to Ill's living quarters, ostensibly to make sure he does not leave and continue to spread lies about Claire. Reporters have finally arrived in the town and they want to make sure that they do not catch wind of Claire's proposal. They start to arrive at the shop, inquiring about Ill's relationship with Claire, and Ill's wife answers their questions...